The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-25

as a comm ittee OF the whole. From the crowd
of citizens who came to watch the proceedings
one might have thought that it was to be con.
sidered by gathering of the people. They
came as they did to the Board of Trade in the
forenoon sever al hundred strong. When the
aldermen and councilmen are crowded
tog ether in the chamber of the latter the space
within the ratings is comfortably filled. Add
dozen spectators, and every person is in the way
of every other person. Bey the ratings arc
seats for not more than fifty. Yesterday every
one of these was taken, while the crowd over
flowed into the narrow aisle, out into the corri-
dor and around to the entrance of the alder
mems room, which was also filled by citizens,
each with a theory pipe lines and the costs
and profits of natural gas. Some stood on chairs,
others desks. while twenty or more blocked
the door leading from chamber the other.
This crowd ovsrawed the councilmen, who
seemingly forgot they were there a committee
of the whole, and that parliamentary rules pro-
hibited any person but one of their body taking
part in the proceedings The aldermen
were there by invitation, with perhaps
the right to say something, but not TO vote
However, affairs at the beginning got into con-
fusion when Mayor Denny, who presided, sug-
gested that the citizens should be heard. Coun-
Gilman Swain at once loved that one but
councirnen and aldermen be allowed to speak.
As for himself ne had heard during the past
several'mon. lbs all the citizens could say on the
question. What should be done now was to
take up the Indianapolis company's ordinance
aud deal with it in the proper manner. so that
final action in the Council could be had. Alder
man Wright and Councilman Cummings took
people ought to be heard Councilman Marley
supported them, and moved that
sasa f'zeH Which be a %sss kn ten m hs
position As there were many hundred on hand
ready to talk this motion was appalling.
Councilman Swain returned to the charge by
saying that he unders TODD this to be meeting
of the Council IN committee, not public one.
If the latter the idea. then the Council
chambe was no place for the gathering and the
sooner an adjournment was made to Tomlinson
Hall the better.
Alderman Pritchard relieved the Markey mo.
ton of its frightful feature by moving to allow
time and that the discussion should extend
longer than O'clock. This would give three
quarters of an hour for an airing of views and
appeared reasonable under the cir
cumstances. the motion prevailed, but
from the crowd came self-appointed
champion of opposition to the new ordinance.
A painful wait followed. until VIM. Patterson,
the Greenback politician and sustainer of CO.
operative plans in piping natural gas stepped to
the front with. We'll. if no one else wants to
talk, 1 will" MIR. Patterson began with his
customary denunciations of monopolies. and had
only got himself into the right spirit of explain
ing the beauties of cooperation when the Mayor
Y,
while several asked Mr.. Patterson to continue.
Councilman Stuckmeyer did not think the
speaker ought to be forced out in tho midst of
his argument. II am willing to have him con-
tinue,' said the Councilman, but let him cut
his speech short" MIR. Patterson said word
or two more and retired.
h. Is. Martindale, In response to calls for
speech, said that he did not represent any par
ocular interest He wanted to have gas brought
the city at once. He attended the meeting st
the Criminal Court room, Saturday night, for
had md
were just forty persons present. It's plan should
not be taken into account. for it was very
serious matter for the Council to be at
all times controlled by town meetings, which
easily held especially in a time when opinions
and feelings are overheated. The board OF
governors of the Board of Trade had discussed
the co operative scheme which was all very
nice in theory, but altogether impractcable
Such ideas prevailed at the beginning of this
agitation, months ago, and they led to no good
results. The governors of the board in the face
of their renewal before them, unanimously
adopted resolution favorng an advance in tho
present ordinance rates. say for three or
four years. They were opposed to granting
any exclusive privileges to any company which
was the right position to take Months ago he
people and the city to admit the Standard COM
pany. and leave the question of low rates
competition He still held TO that view in favor
ing the admission of any company shat could at
once do the work and furnish tho gas. The man.
ufacturers then need not have feared
oppression from a monopoly. under the
themselves Nor Is there any danger
now. The admission of the Standard was de-
feated and no doubt the INDIANAPOLIS company
had something to do with that result. because it
was not ready to bring in gas Now that com
pany is ready to do the work, and the Capitol
City, which has neither the money nor the gas.
comes in to delay It, The Broad Ripple COM
pany. which is that same position. is doing
what it can to help the delay.
There was quite a demand from the crowd,
which by this time had got control of the meet
tn hear T.. e. hat
gentleman, while loaSh to speak, he'appre-
ciated the irregular character of the proceed
ings, nevertheless told what the people in the
Second ward had done at their meeting Satur-
day night. He believed that the resolution
then passed expressed the views Of nine out Of
every ten citizens 1t was decidedly against
any change in the present ordinance. He saw
no reason for change OF sentiment
or opinion in regard to the ordinance,
company said i. was satisfied with
the prices. 1t was then known that the base of
supply must ultimately be the Noblesville region.
By Mr.. McMaster. as by every other person
who smoke talked privately against the In
dianapolis company's ordinance for there
great deal of whispered conversation going on
oil this time. the cooperative idea was men
toned. About every five, minutes that scheme
came to the front 10 dumfound the councilmen
sitting quietly by as a committee OF the whole.
A F. Potts particularly dwelt on the blessings
to come from the scheme, although he did not
believe gas would ever be brought to the city
by n town meeting or resolution After lauding
the trust-certihcate plan. he said that the &C
ceptance of the old ordinance by tho Capital
City company would add legal complications to
the situation if that ordinance repealed
and hence the efforts, he thought. the
Board of Trade would make in advancing tho
trust scheme would be tnwarted. Mr.. Potts
named several responsible gentlemen who fav-
ored the scheme, when Judge Martindale inter-
rupted him with HAS any one of those gentle
men spent dollar in prospecting for natural
,as2'
Mr.. Atkins has" replied Mr. Potts.
"Yes," Judge Martindale retorted. HE is
stockholder IN the Indianapolis company and is
working with it,
It became difficult after this TO get any to |
commit himself TO any extended remarks Those
who we're overchareed with desire to talk re-
;eved call from the crowd, but Judge Clay |
pool did, However, he was satisfied to say that |
here was DO haste, and as to the ordinance he |
could give no opinion, as he had not read it close
Y. w. P. Flsbback responded demand |
'or a speech from him by saying, 81 have said |
III have to saw the natural gas question. but